The North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (NAC - CESU) was established in June 1999 by cooperative agreement between agencies of the Department of the Interior (National Park Service and USGS Biological Resources Division) and the University of Rhode Island, with its partner institution, University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

The North Atlantic Coast CESU is part of a national network of biogeographic programs being established to provide research, technical assistance and education to federal land management, environmental and research agencies. The CESUs will generate collaborations among federal managers and policy-makers, federal researchers and the academic community. Each partner contributes a different perspective and wealth of technical knowledge allowing for the development of new, innovative and creative solutions to the myriad of environmental and social issues that confront our nation's ecosystems. Host universities are selected by a highly competitive process insuring that each CESU is founded on scientific excellence.

The University of Rhode Island, a national leader in the study of coastal and marine ecosystems, was selected as the host for the North Atlantic Coast CESU. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a Historically Black College, offers a strong complement of marine and coastal scientists. Based on the success of initial CESU efforts, four additional institutions have joined the North Atlantic Coast CESU as partners since it's formation: the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, Rutgers University, Stony Brook University, and City University of New York. As a result, excellent research and cooperative education opportunities have been made available to numerous students from diverse backgrounds, for the mutual professional benefit of students and the federal workforce.